Alpha Chi: A New Year

Alpha Chi inductees Photo by David Damm

By Rachel Lynch

On Sept. 27 Waldorf College chapter of Alpha Chi started off their year with the induction ceremonies of their new members.

Alpha Chi is a national honors society that represents the top 10 percent of junior and senior classes of colleges and universities across the nation. Waldorf’s Chapter has 30 members, 15 of which were inducted this year.

“I’m excited to see what Alpha Chi has to offer,” said Nick Heimerman. “I am looking forward to helping out the group and getting to know some of the people better.”

Each year Alpha Chi is involved in a number of fun activities, one being a conference trip. “Last year the convention was held in Chicago. There were so many other Alpha Chi members you got to meet and we were able to attend many research projects, thesis ideas, and fine arts performances put on by fellow Alpha Chi members in their fields of study,” said Shaye Sutherland, Alpha Chi president. “I am also excited for the convention this year because it is in Washington D.C.”

“To raise money for our upcoming trip to Washington, DC, for the national Alpha Chi convention, we will have a sale of mum plants at Homecoming, and we’ll be selling hand-drawn artistic t-shirts around Christmas,” said Dr. Suzanne Falck-Yi, faculty sponsor for Alpha Chi. Falck-Yi has been the faculty sponsor for about five years, when she became the Honors Director at Waldorf College.

Another opportunity that Alpha Chi is involved with is Undergraduate Research grants.

“One of my favorite activities of the group is that we sponsor a competition for two $500 Undergraduate Research grants,” said Falck-Yi. “This funding allows students to take part in research, conferences, arts projects, library research, etc., that they might not otherwise be able to accomplish if they didn’t have the funding.”

“I am looking forward to seeing who receives our research grants this year,” said Sutherland. “There are so many talented and intelligent students here and I always love hearing about their ideas and passions.”